WEDNESDAY 04 ART: Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth. at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth. examines the legacy of revolutionary African-American men through original works of art, quotes and dramatic photographs. Through Dec. 1. $10 with general admission; $5 members. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown, freedomcenter.org. Photo: LeBron James // Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture // Gift of Walter Iooss // © Walter Iooss
WEDNESDAY 04 LIT: Sonia Sotomayor at Walnut Hills High School U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is stopping by Cincinnati to promote her new kids’ book, Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You. Hosted by Joseph-Beth, the event will feature a discussion of the book in which Sotomayor, the first Hispanic and Latina Justice, discusses how our differences make us unique. 7 p.m. Wednesday. Free. Walnut Hills High School, 3250 Victory Parkway, Evanston, josephbeth.com. Photo: Joseph-Beth
WEDNESDAY 04 ART: Kimono: Refashioning Contemporary Style at the Cincinnati Art Museum Kimono: Refashioning Contemporary Style highlights the garment’s effect on fashion and culture and includes classic Japanese kimonos as well as modern takes by Japanese, European and American designers including Coco Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Rei Kawakubo, Junya Watanabe, Yohji Yamamoto, Tom Ford and more. Through Sept. 15. $10 adults; $5 senior/student/child; free for members. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org. Photo: The Kyoto Costume Institute // Photo: Takashi Hatakeyama
THURSDAY 05 EVENT: Meet the Chefs: Fall 2019 Meet several chefs participating in CityBeat’s Greater Cincinnati Fall Restaurant Week and sample some bites and cocktails from Maker’s Mark. There will be a Q&A with each chef, hosted by WWE Ring Announcer Greg Hamilton. Participating chefs include Dave Bever from The View at Shires’ Garden, Shawn Heine from Prime Cincinnati and Jack Hemmer from Nicola’s Restaurant. This event is 21 and older. Greater Cincinnati Fall Restaurant Week runs Sept. 23-29 with special $26 and $36 three-course menus at participating restaurants. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday. $15. Fueled Collective, 3825 Edwards Road, Rookwood Exchange, Norwood, citybeattickets.com. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
FRIDAY 06 MUSIC: Amos Lee Soulful Folk/Rock singer/songwriter Amos Lee began cultivating his large and loyal fanbase in 2005 when he released his self-titled debut album, but it was 2011’s Mission Bell that pushed him into the mainstream consciousness. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Lee’s latest album, My New Moon, was released last summer to widespread critical acclaim and strong chart debuts. Madison Cunningham, who’s been compared to Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake, will open for Lee this week when he brings his My New Moon tour to Cincinnati. 8 p.m. Friday. $39.50-$89.50. Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, tafttheatre.org. Photo: Brantley Gutierrez
FRIDAY 06 COMEDY: Brad Williams They say luck is when opportunity meets preparation and that’s exactly how Brad Williams became a comedian. While attending a show by Carlos Mencia, Williams was called up onstage to chat with the veteran comic. Williams killed and gained the confidence to do comedy himself. However, it wasn’t his natural cleverness that helped him win the audience over that night, so much as a lifetime of using humor as a defense mechanism. Williams credits his father, an attorney by trade, for bringing humor into his life. “My dad’s one of the funniest dudes I know. He’s funnier than me. He’s great with comebacks and zingers, so he gets me a lot.” The elder Williams made fun of his son, who was born with achondroplasia, but not in a mean-spirited way. “He did it because he knew other kids would make fun of me, so he did it first to get me prepared for it. Kind of ‘A Boy Named Sue’ thing.” 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday; 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday. $20-$52. Liberty Funny Bone, 7518 Bales St., Liberty Township, liberty.funnybone.com. Photo: bradwilliamscomedy.com
FRIDAY 06 EVENT: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Film with Live Orchestra The Cincinnati Pops’ first-ever principal guest conductor Damon Gupton (also an accomplished actor aka SSA Stephen Walker on Criminal Minds, for any fans out there) leads the orchestra in a live rendition of John Williams’ epic score to accompany a screening of the second installment of the intergalactic cinematic saga, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Say hello to Yoda and goodbye to Luke’s hand as the Pops perform every single note of the film’s soundtrack as it is played on the big screen above the stage at Music Hall. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $25-$115. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatisymphony.org. Damon Gupton // Photo: Damu Malik
FRIDAY 06 MUSIC: Hank Von Hell Hank Von Hell of Turbonegro plays the Southgate House Revival. 9 p.m. Friday. $20 advance; $25 day of. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport, southgatehouse.com. Photo: Ted Linden
FRIDAY 06 EVENT: Covington Oktoberfest Covington’s Oktoberfest will return to MainStrasse Village for a weekend of music, arts, food, drink and celebrating the city’s German culture. This year, the free, family-friendly event will be a little bit smaller and will focus on the local offerings of Covington businesses. “In previous years of Covington Oktoberfest, businesses in Covington’s MainStrasse Village experienced less foot traffic as visitors opted for street food and beer instead of indoor dining,” a press release explains. “This year, restored by local leaders like Braxton Brewing Co., the focus will be put back on local businesses.” 5-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Goebel Park, 501 Philadelphia St., Covington, facebook.com/mainstrassevillage. Photo: City of Covington
FRIDAY 06 ART: Leaves of Plates at the Lloyd Library During their artists’ residency at the Lloyd Library earlier this year, Katie Parker and Guy Michael Davis — the duo behind local studio Future Retrieval — stumbled upon a phrase while looking through the library’s catalog: “leaves of plates.” To break that down, a “leaf” refers to a book page, while a “plate” is an illustration printed separately from the text. In learning that term, Parker and Davis pored through Lloyd’s collection of illustrations in books about botany, exploration and alchemy. Though much of their leads were seemingly disparate, they eventually weaved their ideas together to create cohesive pieces inspired by their time at the Lloyd. That work culminates as Leaves of Plates. The show will feature mixed media works that include ceramics, cut paper and textiles alongside apothecary jars — all of which draw inspiration from the library’s collection. Opening reception 5:30-8 p.m. Friday. Through Nov. 22. Free. Lloyd Library and Museum, 917 Plum St., Downtown, lloydlibrary.org. Photo: Future Retrieval
FRIDAY 06 MUSIC: Rick Springfield with Greg Kihn and Patty Smyth Several ’80s Pop Rock hitmakers are traveling the country together this year as part of the “Rick Springfield Presents Best in Show” tour. For the Cincinnati tour stop, it was initially announced that Springfield — a soap opera star who turned in one of the 1980s’ more enduring Pop hits with “Jessie’s Girl” — would be appearing with Eddie Money, but Money had to drop off the lineup due to pneumonia that developed after his heart surgery. The “Two Tickets to Paradise” singer later revealed that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. Taking Money’s place on the bill is Patty Smyth, the frontperson for Scandal, which had big hits in the ’80s with songs like “Goodbye to You” and “The Warrior.” Power Pop veteran (and now novelist) Greg Kihn, whose contributions to the ’80s zeitgeist include classics like “The Breakup Song” and “Jeopardy,” will also perform. 7:30 p.m. Friday. $23.50-$73. PNC Pavilion at Riverbend, 6295 Kellogg Ave., California, riverbend.org. Photo: riverbend.org
SATURDAY 07 MUSIC: The Avett Brothers at Great American Ball Park Hugely popular and critically acclaimed Americana group The Avett Brothers are coming back to Cincinnati and once again they’ll be performing at Great American Ball Park following a Reds game. (The band previously played the stadium in 2017 after an August game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.) On Saturday, the Avetts will follow the Reds after the team plays the Arizona Diamondbacks. The game begins at 4:10 p.m. Saturday and the concert starts about 20 minutes after the final out. Admission to the concert is free with a ticket to the game. Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown, mlb.com/reds. Photo: Crackerfarm
SATURDAY 07 EVENT: 12th Street Shuffle Give back while drinking for cheap. The second-annual 12th Street Shuffle pub crawl takes attendees to 12 bars around Pendleton and Over-the-Rhine for $4 drink specials from participating venues including 3 Points, Nation Kitchen and Bar, Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey, Rosedale, HalfCut, Wiseguy Lounge and Cobblestone. Shuffle bars will be serving discounted brews from 3 Points, MadTree, Streetside and West Side Brewing, and you’ll get a commemorative mug, a free drink at 3 Points and a raffle ticket. Proceeds benefit Give Back Cincinnati. Noon-7 p.m. Saturday. $12. 3 Points, 331 E. 13th St., Pendleton, facebook.com/3pointsbeer. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
SATURDAY 07 MUSIC: David Shaw’s Big River Get Down Since 2015, Hamilton, Ohio’s David Shaw has been annually returning to his hometown to host the Big River Get Down, a multi-act music festival at the city’s RiversEdge Amphitheater. Shaw also headlines the Get Down with his band The Revivalists. Formed in New Orleans, The Revivalists broke big in 2016 with their single “Wish I Knew You”; the Platinum-selling track set a record for the most spins on Alternative Radio in a single week. For this year’s fifth-anniversary Big River Get Down, The Revivalists will be joined by The War And Treaty, Brent Cobb, Southern Avenue, Chris Gelbuda and Chicago Soul singer Neal Francis. 3 p.m. Saturday. $38.40. RiversEdge at Marcum Park, 116 Dayton St., Hamilton, riversedgelive.com. Photo: Brantley Gutierrez
SATURDAY 07 EVENT: Ohio Renaissance Festival Maidens, mages and minstrels take heed: 16th century England returns to Waynesville, Ohio for adventure, merriment, craftsmen and giant turkey legs during the Ohio Renaissance Festival. The historically recreated Elizabethan village covers 30 acres with daily stage shows (dueling swordsmen, rowdy pirates and jousters); a Medieval marketplace with glassblowers, blacksmiths and leather experts; rides powered by humans; and Renaissance-style fair food ranging from bread bowls and mead to steak on a stick. Themed weekends continue with Time Travelers Weekend (free TARDIS parking) Sept. 7 and 8. Through Oct. 27. $23 adults; $21 seniors; $9.50 children; free 5 and under. 10542 E. State Route 73, Waynesville, renfestival.com. Photo: Checkmate Photography
SATURDAY 07 MUSIC: Chris Shiflett The Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett plays Top Cats with opener and backing band Cordovas. 8 p.m. Saturday. $12. Top Cats, 2820 Vine St., Corryville, topcatscincy.com. Photo: Brantley Gutierrez
SUNDAY 08 EVENT: Tea Dance It’s time for another Tea Dance, and this month things are getting elevated on the Rhinegeist rooftop. This LGBTQ-friendly Sunday afternoon dance party is an inclusive love fest featuring views of Over-the-Rhine and Mount Adams; music from Gabriela G9 and Jacoby; and beer, wine and cocktails for purchase. 4-7 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/teadancecinci. Photo: Brittany Thornton
SUNDAY 08 EVENT: Second Sunday on Main Over-the-Rhine’s eclectic street festival is back with a “Sustain on Main” theme. This event will focus on businesses and groups who are committed to working toward a green future for the city, with demonstrations including info on electric bikes and cars, compost collection and a tutorial on how to make a “living garden.” Sew Valley will also be there to explore the concept of sustainable fashion and artist L.D. Nehls, formerly of Rock Paper Scissors art materials store, will be applying botanically themed temporary tattoos. Check out live music, shop main street merchants and visit the biergarten lounge with brews from Taft’s, 3 Points and Platform Beer Co. Noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Main Street between 12th and Liberty streets, Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/OTRSSOM. Photo: Brittany Thornton
SUNDAY 08 EVENT: Adult Swim Close out the summer swim season with this adults-only party at Ziegler Pool. The Rhine-Stones synchronized swim team will be on hand for a special performance, with a bonus DJ and beer from Rhinegeist. No outside alcohol is permitted and attendees must be 21 and up. 7:30-10 p.m. Sunday. $10. Ziegler Pool, 1322 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/zieglerpark. Photo: Sarah Laubacher
SUNDAY 08 EVENT: For the Love of Food: A Free Foodie Fest The Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District and La Soupe are hosting this festival to raise awareness about food waste. This carnival invites families to enjoy lunch while learning about the value of food through games, music, educational booths, cooking demos and giveaways. Travel through Washington Park with a Foodie Passport — if you complete the passport, you leave with a reusable bag filled with groceries. La Soupe will be serving a dish featuring donated food, Plant Cincinnati will be grilling, the indoor 80 Acres Farms will have salad and there will be a “produce petting zoo” to learn how to store food correctly. The event is the result of a nationwide campaign to reduce food waste by 50 percent by 2030. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, hamiltoncountyrecycles.org. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
SUNDAY 08 MUSIC: Pat Metheny Side-Eye Pat Metheny Side-Eye brings a unique improvisational Jazz style to Memorial Hall. 8 p.m. Sunday. $45-$75. Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, memorialhallotr.com. Photo: The Kurland Agency